Help loading software?

travel_freak

Hi,

My work just had a sale of its PC base stations and I bought one.

Work has wiped everything off except for Windows XP.

I am trying to load various software incl. Word etc which I have on CDs. Normally I put the CD in and it self loads but this is not happening.

I have tried going to "Run" but it only shows C: as an option. I think the CD/DVD drive is but I have tried typing into the box both and A: and it keeps telling me these drives are not available.

I am not to techie - please could someone offer any tips advice for where I'm going wrong?

There is a bit called "command prompt" and when I click on that it comes up with:

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator.HP022>

Hope someone can help! Many thanks in advance.

bazzlad

Go to your "My Computer".
If there's a cd icon there right click it and click explore.

If not, you don't have a CD drive installed - make sure it's connected internally.

m.colak

when you put the disc in does the green led come on? Have you right clicked on the drive icon and checked that its set to autorun?.

If you still can't see the CDrom it might have been disabled. Go to control panel and services and there will be a item in there called cdrom check to make sure that its started/enabled. If you can't find services then go to the c: drive on My computer and then click on winnt and then system32 and it should be there.

travel_freak

Hi,

Many thanks for the replies.

I still can't get it working.

When I go to C:\windows\system32, there is an icon "$winnt"

Clicking on that brings up:

[setupparams]
skipmissingfiles = 0

[data]
unattended install = no
floppylessbootpath = no
product type = winnt
standardserverupgrade = no
winntupgrade = no
win9xupgrade = no
win31upgrade = no
sourcepath = \device\cdrom0\
floppyless = 0
msdosinitiated = 0
dospath = \

Is there anything here I can change or need to change to get the CDs to load?

Many thanks again.

travel_freak

Hi,

Sorry, I meant to say there s no "CDRom check" option that I can see.

Also there is no icon for D drive that I can see.

Many thx.

m.colak

travel_freak wrote: »

Hi,

Sorry, I meant to say there s no "CDRom check" option that I can see.

Also there is no icon for D drive that I can see.

Many thx.

ok go to the start menu bottom right and click on search. select files and folders and enter "services". This should bring up the program that you need to run (else it will also be in administrative tools). On this program (icon should look like two cogs together) there will be either cdlock or cdrom check to see if they are started if not come back to me as it might just be a case that it isn't enabled in the bios.

travel_freak

Hi M.Colak,

Many thx - I've done what you suggested, found the icon with the cogs and checked there - definitely no cdlock or cdrom check or anything similar.

What is bios?!

Thanks for your help.

iyiarz

It sounds like the CD Drive is not connected internally.
Have a look here to get an idea of what you should have plugged in http://www.fonerbooks.com/r_cd.htm

travel_freak

Hi iyiarz

Thanks for that really useful picture link - that was it, the ribbon bit wasn't plugged in, did that and it has now fired into life. So far, so good. Perhaps I may report back if I have any more problems with the installing of the CDs?

Thanks once again for everyone's help.

I will be having words with the IT department when I'm back at work!!!

Regards

travel_freak

here I am again...! Knew it was too good to be true..

All CDs installed fine.

The only problem I have is that it flashed up an error message saying:

"The computer has no sound board installed - you cannot play a message"

Is this likely to be another missing cable inside or does it mean there is physically no sound board? And does this mean I can't play CDs, radio or get any sound?!? It won't be much use to me if that's the case.

How expensive is it to buy a sound board if that is what I need and can I install this myself?

Thanks once again!

iyiarz

It may well not have one. Have a look at the back. If you can find some headphone type sockets, it will have a sound card but the software might be missing. You'd need to post what the make and model of the computer is to give you more direction.

Otherwise, sound cards are very cheap to buy: http://www.dabs.com/productlist.aspx?&CategorySelectedId=11140&PageMode=1&NavigationKey=11140,4294954506&ProductList1PageOffset=0&ProductList1RecordOffset=0#Paging